More On Sweetners

In the past I posted an article on Splenda and other sweeteners. Stevia was one that I had recommended if you really needed something to put in your tea or food. But I there is some controversy on using any kind of sweetener or just plain sugar in your drinks or food.

More and More doctors are saying just stay away from sweeteners and sugar to help you stay healthy. In an MSNBC article on Stevia says that studies have shown that eating sugar substitutes can make you gain weight.

"Studies indicate that consuming something with a sweet taste primes the body for a calorie delivery that doesn’t happen. As a result eaters seek more sweets to satisfy the body's cravings. Recent research also found that sucralose may alter people’s gut bugs in ways that promote weight gain."

I know that Dr. Oz and a few others have been saying the same thing for years. "Sweeteners found in diet soft drinks, in diet foods, and on restaurant tables next to the sugar packets go unrecognized by the brain. They're essentially invisible to your brain's satiety centers, so it doesn't count them as real food and still desires to be fulfilled by calories somewhere else. There's no clear-cut proof on the effects of these sweeteners - either on a health level or on a weight -loss level - but we do know one thing: Prehistoric man wasn't putting Splenda in his water. Artificial sweeteners, while lacking calories, may have side effects like intestinal problems and headaches. If you're having a hard time losing weight or don't feel well, these are some of the first things to cut out, even though they can be an alternative to high-calorie sugars. "

One thing I have noticed is that people are using more and more sweeteners in their drinks. It use to be that one packet would do. Now it is not uncommon to see people put two or three packets in their tea or coffee. Now isn't that considered large quantities especially if they have 3 or 4 glasses a day along with a couple of diet drinks and sugar fee food. Isn't that getting to the point of concern since most studies have stated that large quantities can cause major diseases and cancers. Some studies have shown that Stevia can cause sterility.

Stevia has a strange aftertaste to me and I was not able to get past it, so I stopped using it. Of course that was before I knew it could cause you to be sterile. I don't use sugar that much, but when I do I use the natural sugar. If I want something sweet I will eat the real stuff made with sugar or grab some fruit.

If you are serious about losing weight and lowering your grocery bill, stick with foods in the produce department. By cutting out the low-sugar, low-fat, and as my husband says no-taste foods you can spend a few extra dollars on some non-sale no-coupon produce. Which will also help you cut down on medical bills down the road. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

Another source to check out: MSNBC Video Report